Sixth-, Ninth-Grade Students Get Ready for the New Year

Students entering sixth and ninth grade in Fort Wayne Community Schools will get a jump on the new year when they visit their schools for orientation on Monday, Aug. 3.

Sixth-graders entering middle school will participate in orientation from 8 a.m. to noon at their school. The same day, ninth-graders will get a taste of high school life during orientation at their schools from 9:05 a.m. to 1:10 p.m.

The orientation day gives students at these two transitional grade levels the chance to learn the rules of the new school, find their lockers, walk through their schedule and practice other school routines, such as navigating the lunch line. Addressing some of the technical parts of changing schools eases some of the anxieties students may feel on their first day. With those issues out of the way, students can focus more directly on academics from the first day of the school year, which is Aug. 11.

The orientations also give students a chance to meet teachers and administrators in a setting different than a regular class day, which provides an opportunity to start building relationships. Students will meet the people who will lead and support them over the next few years. Having a strong support system is an important part of having a successful academic career.

At the middle schools, sixth-graders will also get a jump-start on experiencing math and language arts classes in middle school, and their parents will have time to meet with school counselors to learn about their role as a middle school parent and what support is available at each school.

With nearly 30,000 students, Fort Wayne Community Schools is one of the largest school districts in Indiana. FWCS proudly allows families to choose any of its 50 schools through its successful school-choice program creating diversity in each school, including some with more than 75 languages spoken. FWCS offers seven magnet schools focusing on areas such as science and math, communication, fine arts or Montessori at the elementary and middle school level. In high school, students can choose from the prestigious International Baccalaureate program, Project Lead the Way or New Tech Academy as well as other rigorous academic and specialty training programs.